Arteta ‘very surprised’ at Jesus claims on Barcelona transfer
Jesus’s four-year run with the Gunners ended in September and the Brazilian made his disappointment with the whole affair well known. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Jesus’s four-year run with the Gunners ended in September and the Brazilian made his disappointment with the whole affair well known. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he was taken aback by Gabriel Jesus’s statements about his move to Barcelona.
The Premier League-winning gaffer said he was very surprised by Jesus claiming he was forced to train alone and kept in the dark prior to his move to the La Liga giant.
Jesus’s four-year run with the Gunners ended in September and the Brazilian made his disappointment with the whole affair well known.
The striker, in an interview this week, said that “out of nowhere they put me to train apart from the group”, adding that “nobody told me nothing” before he signed for Barcelona.
Arteta insisted he had spoken to the former Manchester City star about the transfer and had parted on good terms.
“Very surprised, to be fair. Especially because with Gabi (Jesus) I had an individual talk in the dressing room,” he told reporters on Friday.
“I don’t know what words were said, it’s fine. The words that we used were all about gratitude.”
This is not an isolated issue facing the defending champion. Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright recently said he was “uncomfortable” with what he perceived to be a lack of dialogue between the club and Gabriel Martinelli, who moved to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal on September 3.
Arteta, however, cited Leandro Trossard -- who has moved to Besiktas in July -- as an example of how the club is maintaining relationships with former players. Trossard was there to watch Arsenal’s win over Chelsea last weekend.
“I don’t know, it’s OK. Sometimes I understand that when you have to deliver bad news, or news that people don’t expect, somebody has to be the bad cop. If I have to be, I have to be and I understand,” he said ahead Arsenal’s trip to Sunderland this weekend.
“What is important is normally what happens three months or six months later. When Trossard comes, he’s in the dressing room with all of us, the atmosphere and the relationship you have.
“Thank God so far that with all the players that left, at some point the relationship has been really good. I hope this is the same case.”
Published on Sep 11, 2026
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